South Jersey Magazine - Marlton / Medford

zoom_in

SJM_MenOfTheYear_1124FINAL.qxp_SJM Feature 11 / 21 / 24 3 : 04 PM Page 3 MEN OF THE YEAR 2024 Phillip W . Heath or over 30 years , Heath’s career has been distinguished mier Partnership with Rutgers University – Camden to Fby his leadership experience with various local , advance training in , and access to , person - centered serious regional and national health care organizations . With illness care in the region . Additionally , Samaritan has taken extensive experience in the hospice , senior housing , long - the lead in the formation of the Social Isolation , Loneliness & term care and health care technology arena , he has been Connection Collaborative , bringing together over 40 involved in corporate community affairs , social responsi - regional organizations committed to addressing issues of bility , inclusion and diversity initiatives , and has been a com - social isolation and loneliness . munity volunteer throughout his life . Heath’s commitment to elevating the conversation Heath’s personal mission of service has always been to around health equity and advancing access to serious illness provide “ what the patient wants and what the patient care includes positions on the board of trustees for the needs . ” That priority continues as president and CEO of National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation , Samaritan . There , he leads the organization’s mission to Responsive Care Solutions — where he serves as vice chair , deliver extraordinary compassion and professional expertise and the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey — to help patients , clients and those who care about them live where he will join the executive committee in 2025 . their best lives every day . “ If our work is not serving , caring , authentic and Pre - we are not fulfilling our mission . ” Under Heath’s leadership , Samaritan entered a trusting , ” says Heath , “ then Dr . Nicholas L . DePace r . DePace is a nationally esteemed multi board - cer - DePace promised that he would make this formidable col - D tified cardiologist and premier authority on the lection accessible to the public . Thus , the dream of the groundbreaking study and treatment of autonomic ner - DePace Sports Museum was born . vous system dysfunction . Along with his longstanding With his vast collection on display for free to the affiliation with Jefferson Hospital , Dr . DePace established public , the museum is looking to make an impact on the Franklin Cardiovascular with extensive offices and testing community in numerous ways . Some of its charitable facilities located in Sicklerville . In addition to his bur - missions include providing uniforms , equipment and geoning practice , he has also authored six books and more to local sports teams in need ; supporting college more than 200 medical articles and reviews . scholarships and other educational youth - related pro - Over 40 years ago , and with the encouragement of jects ; supporting various animal shelters and rescues ; his father , Dr . DePace began acquiring one - of - a - kind working with at - risk youth and more . pieces of sports memorabilia ; this passion has since Dr . DePace’s collection , consisting of memorabilia , grown into an internationally renowned personal collec - artifacts , uniforms and equipment used by the greatest tion . At the request of his great friend and beloved former names in sports history , is now available for viewing by heavyweight champion boxer “ Smokin ’ Joe ” Frazier , Dr . appointment at the museum in Washington Township . Riccardo Dale ale is a testament to perseverance and the power of founder and CEO of Free All Minds , a year - round leader - D mentorship . After a challenging upbringing caused ship academy for young men of color based in Camden . At him to leave home at 16 years old , he was unsure where this nationally recognized academy , students take weekly life’s journey would take him . That’s when his basketball classes centered around academic achievement , career coach and mentor stepped in to help guide his future . readiness , life skills and wellness . Since its inception , Dale Dale went from failing academically to getting a full col - and the organization has sent dozens of young men off to lege scholarship and starting his career of service at just 20 college or trade school , with Free All Minds athletics pro - years old when he was elected to the board of trustees at gram producing a number of college athletes along the Rowan University . He went on to become an award - win - way . Dale has plans to expand the academy to all 50 ning speaker by the age of 21 , and by 22 , Dale had been states with the goal of sending 50,000 young men of color elected to the Beverly City Board of Education . A year to college . later , he became of New Jersey’s youngest elected officials While it’s clear that Councilman Dale has made an as a councilman in Beverly City . impact in the community at just 27 years old , he feels like But what Dale is perhaps most known for is being the he’s only getting started and the best is yet to come . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 8 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 34 |

view text

zoom_in

SJM_MenOfTheYear_1124FINAL.qxp_SJM Feature 11 / 21 / 24 3 : 04 PM Page 4 William Jensen n 2017 , Jensen made a determined and conscious deci - In addition to running the successful nonprofit , I sion to build an organization that was unique in its mis - Jensen , Gloria and their daughter Natalie , a licensed occu - sion and help an underserved community of neurodiverse pational therapist , volunteer their time with Special young adults . Jensen’s son Luke was diagnosed with Olympics of South Jersey , Luke’s Place Bowling League and autism as a young child and then at age 21 , faced aging out Luke’s Place cornhole tournament . Jensen and his wife also of his public education services with very little options to assist local school districts to help neurodiverse students pursue a purposeful and fulfilling adult life . Jensen and his and their families transition into adult life , guiding them devoted wife Gloria began to brainstorm and conceptualize through the various support available through New a nonprofit that would fill the void for those with a con - Jersey’s Division of Development Disabilities . firmed neurodiverse diagnosis . Luke’s Place has received a Congressional proclama - Luke’s Place Inc . — named appropriately after tion from the United States House of Representatives along Jensen’s son — opened its doors in 2018 as a facility based with the Camden County Freedom Medal for its efforts . The in a community setting in Audubon . The 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organi - is also the proud recipient of a citation from organization zation provides social , athletic and volunteer opportunities , the State of New Jersey and General Assembly for their ser - with a very vibrant day program that focuses on commu - vice in the special needs community in South Jersey , along nity awareness and embracing their participants with care with a proclamation from their municipality recognizing its and devotion to their total well - being . community impact . Boaz Matlack fter the gruesome recording of George Floyd’s region . By working with local municipalities to ensure safe A murder was made public back in 2020 , Matlack says demonstration , the pair led over two dozen marches to he felt “ trapped and alone . ” Growing up in the quiet com - help send a unified message of racial justice . munity of Medford , he had never experienced these emo - His efforts helped earn him Rowan College of tions before . But he used the feelings of anger and despair Burlington County’s Civility Award , and it’s evident that as motivation to make a difference , and shortly he joined Matlack continues to take his activism to heart . He’s a his sister at a demonstration along Medford’s Main Street . member of DEON ( Diversity & Equal Opportunity Net - The honks and cheers he heard inspired him to take mat - work ) ; served as chairman of criminal justice for the ters a step further , and for the next two weeks , every Southern Burlington County NAACP ; and has worked evening after work , he perched himself at a median along directly with the county’s Minority and Equality Rights Route 70 with signs calling for social justice . It wasn’t long Task Force . As he now looks to obtain his degree from The before other members of the community would join him . University of Colorado , he knows that community activism Soon after , another community leader from will certainly be a part of his future . Burlington County joined Matlack and together , along “ Once I graduate and become self - sufficient , I will with hundreds of others , they marched all across the rejoin the fight for social justice however I can , ” he says . Jared Silverstein t takes a unique individual to see a need in the com - challenges of raising special - needs children . Their I munity and strive to fill it while seeking nothing in struggle has become his mission and his help has return . The equity that keeps Silverstein working so hard touched countless families in meaningful ways . as a tireless advocate for those in need is gratitude , And so in 2015 , Silverstein founded Puzzle Pieces friendship and the community he has created . When Squared ( P2 ) , a support organization dedicated to families feel lost and in the dark , he takes it upon himself empowering individuals on the autism spectrum and to provide light in the form of knowledge , resources and their families . With a focus on raising awareness , pro - funding . viding financial resources and tools , and promoting His dedication has created a vital resource for fami - inclusion , P2 works vigorously to create a world where lies facing hardship , offering them a place of support and those with autism are understood , accepted and given hope . Silverstein’s personal experience , strength and the tools they need to thrive . Through its community - commitment to the “ go beyond ” philosophy are not just outreach and educational efforts , P2 has become a vital words — they are principals he truly lives by . As a father source of support , fostering connections and offering a of twins with autism , he intimately understands the voice for individuals with autism and their advocates . Quandell Iglesia glesia is a seasoned professional in business develop - Changer Award from the Gloucester County NAACP , the I ment at National Integrity Title Agency , drawing from 2019 Most Influential African American : People Making a extensive real estate expertise developed through his the South Jersey Journal and the Difference Award from leadership at IQ Real Estate Team . Dedicated to commu - Spirit of Community : Bob Shryock Award from the Volun - nity empowerment , he is the founder and president of teer Center of South Jersey , among others . He’s also been the nonprofit SNJ Millennials , fostering growth and con - recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Vineland nectivity among young professionals . African American Community Development Corporation . Through SNJ Millennials , he introduces young pro - Further , Iglesia’s entrepreneurial excellence earned fessionals to new business networks while providing him the Young Professionals Leadership Award from them with valuable business educational resources . Certi - Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce and fied in foundations of diversity , equity and inclusion , his unwavering commitment to education , entrepreneur - Iglesia is also on the board of education for Monroe ship and DEI initiatives cements his legacy of service and Township Public Schools , and is the former New Jersey leadership in South Jersey . Most recently , he was featured Young Democrats – Southern Vice President . He’s also on segment on PHL17 News for his efforts working with n received numerous awards , including the Phoenix Game future Hispanic leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 8 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 35

view text

input

view_module

keyboard_arrow_left

keyboard_arrow_right